Improvement in grain-driers



BSneetv-Sheefh w. L; CARD. Improvement in Grain-Briers. N0.128,707, Patertedluly 9,1872,

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Improvement in Grain-Briers.

N0.1 28,707, 7 Q Patented July 9,1 872.

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W. L. CARD.

v Improvement in Grain-Briers.

N0.128,707. Patented luly 9,1872.

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UNITED STATES WILLIAM L. CARD, or KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-DRiERS.

A Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,707, datedJuly 9, 1872;

grain-drier constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the same looking from the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the machine taken on the line a: a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the machine taken on the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the machine taken on the line 2 z of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical central section of the machine on the line to w of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a vertical central section of the machine on the line o of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the combination of a fanblast with the machine.

Like letters of reference made use of in the accompanying drawing designate like parts.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I'will proceed to describe the same with particularity by reference to the aforesaid drawing.

General Description.

The entire apparatus is made in two grand divisions-an upper division, A, in which the appliances for steaming and drying are placed, and a lower division, B, constructed to cool the grain and discharge it gradually at a regulated speed. In passing through this apparatus'the grain (which is admitted at the top and descends by its gravity) is subjected to several distinct operations before being finally discharged atthe bottom. Upon its first admission the grain is thrown in contact with numerous jets of steam, so that it is thoroughly heated thereby, and at the same time the exterior coating of each kernel softened by the action of the steam, to allow of the subsequent ready escape of the moisture contained in the body of the kernel. The grain is next heated by a system of steam-coils and hot-air chambers, and hot-air currents admlt- .low the pipes caused by the displacement of grain by the said steam-pipes, so that the moisture within the grain is vaporized and forced out, and the moisture from the previous steaming driven off and carried out of the kiln by the admitted dry hot air by way of the ventilators. The grain then descends into the cooling-bin, and the cool outside air drawn through it by a suction-fan, which carries away the warmth and. forces it into the air-chambers of the drying compartment above, to utilize the heat otherwise lost. At each end of the upper division A are the vertical hot-air fiuesor chamber 0 G, and at the center a third similar flue, O, which latter only extends down to the horizontal side flues D, being tapered or beveled away to a point below said flues D, as shown in the drawing. E is a steam-pipe connected at the upper end directly to a steam-boiler, and passing longitudinally along the outside of the upper division A near the top. Numerous pipes e depart at right angles from the pipe E along the line, and enter the interior of the drier, extending from side to side thereof. These pipes e are perforated with small apertures along the under side, so as to throw numerous fine jets of steam among the grain as it first enters the apparatus. Stop-cocks f serve to regulate the flow of steam to the pipes e. The pipe E, after supplying the perforated pipes e, carries the remaining steam down at right angles by the continuation E to a point below, Where it enters the interior of the drier and forms. a longitudinal coil, E, the elbows of which are within the flues O, and finally terminates in a drip-cock and discharge, E, shown at the right of Figs. 1 and 6, and which is continued to the boiler to discharge the warm water into it to supply the same, in whole or in part, with water, thereby saving heat. F is a steam-tight chamber placed upon the drier near the top of the division A. This chamber is connected by pipes G H to a chamber, F, at the other end of the drier, which is in turn connected by steam-pipes G to a third chamber, F, placed below the chamber F. Hot steam is admitted to the chamber F by the pipe g, and, after circulating through the several pipes G G H and chamber F, is discharged from the chamber F by way of the exhaustpipe g. The'pipes H,'which are similar in other respects to the pipes G G, are perforated upon their lower side to allow of the escape of a portion of the steam among the grain, and' are fitted at each end with a plug-valve, i, to close or regulate their supply at pleasure. The steam supplied to the chamberF is taken from the exhaust-pipe of a steamengine, and is exhaust orpartially-vaporized steam. The horizontal side fines D are carried along both sides of the drier, and supply the chambers C G G with hot dry air forced, by means of a fan-blast, into the aperture 1). The walls of these chambers O G C, which lie next the grain, are perforated for the passage of the tubes G G H E", which apertures in the walls contiguous to the grain are made slightlylarger than the outside diameter of the tube, so that theyfitloosely therein,leaving an annular space around each tube for the admission of air from all of the chambers O G G to the grain. The chambers O C are connected at the bottom by fines G" passing from one to the other outside of the apparatus, the purpose of which flues will be in due order explained.

Down as far as the bottom of the central hotair chamber 0 the capacity of the interior is less than below this point, where the chamber 0 does not exist. The result is that the grain is inclined to flow faster along the sides of the said chamber 0 than it does in the center of the mass, because it falls in the space immediately below the chamber 0, and the displacement is greater at the sides than in the middle. In like manner the lower division of the apparatus B is made longer than the upper division, and, as a result,the displacement is more rapid along the sides of the outer chambers O O, and the grain also flows faster along the face of these chambers than it does in the center of the mass. By this peculiar arrangement that portion of the grain which comes in immediate contact with the heated surfaces of the hot-air chambers, and through which the jets of hot air first pass, are caused to move the fastest, and that in the center of the mass furthest from and least affected by the hot-air supply is proportionallylon ger subjected to the action thereof. It is necessary that the vapor-laden air should have as free exit from among the grain as possible; and to accomplish this recourse is had to a series of ventilators, J, consisting each of a transverse bar running from side to side of the drier and made in the shape of an inverted trough, immediately below which, upon both sides, the drier is pierced with an opening to the external air, said openings being marked j in the drawing. The grain, in passin g through the apparatus, is opposed by the inclined pent-roof surface of these ventilators j and a vacant space is left below each ventilator, and into this vacant space the moistureladen air gathers and escapes by way of the apertures J at both ends of the open space. I prefer to make the ventilating cross-bars of the inverted trough or pent-roof shape shown, but they may be made of various shapes, as a flat horizontal bar would, in a measure, ac-

complish the same result-the result sought being to produce a flue by obstructing the grain, one or more sides of which flue are constituted by the grain. In the pent-roof shape shown the grain cannot lodge-and burn. If a more thorough and rapid circulation is desired the ventilator J may be perforated with numerous fine holes from end to end; this also allows any moisture which may form on the upper surface of the ventilator to pass through and be carried out.

By this construction of ventilating-fines the difiiculty usually experienced in the common perforated metal flues-viz., that of their filling up and becoming clogged with chaff, dirt, small pieces of grain broken up in shelling, &c.is entirely obviated, as may be plainly seen, as all such substances fall upon the bottom of the flue, which is formed of the grain, and with which they pass on until discharged from the machine. A. row of similar ventilators, J j, are placed at the bottom of the upper division A of the apparatus, extending from one to the other of the horizontal hotair flues 0, opening into the interior of the drier among descending grain, so that the hot air forced into the chambers O O C after filling the same passes down into the flues G G", and the surplus flows into the drier among the grain by way of the ventilators J so that if the grain by the time it has reached this point in its descent has not been thorough- 1y dried it is met by the inflowing streams of hot dry air and all the moisture absorbed and carried away. This hot air tends to diffuse among the grain so that none of the heat is lost.

The cooler B, placed immediately under the drier and into which the grain flows impelled by gravity, is constructed as follows: K K are the two vertical grain-compartments, between which is located the air-space L, covered at the top by the triangular chamber M, which prevents the descending grain from entering said air-chamber and guides it upon either side into the bins. The walls of these bins at the side are mace of ventilating-slats b, arranged horizontally and having the upper edge beveled, as at I, so that the grain will not flow through, yet space be left to allow free entrance and exit for the air. At the bottom of the bins are placed the inclined surfaces NN,

screw q. The shaft which carries the screw q carries also outside of the apparatus the actuating band-wheel R, and at the other end a crank-wheel, S,'to the wrist-pin of which is attached the connecting-rod s pivoted at the tion of the crank-wheel, and the amount discharged from both bins K is equal. To insure other end to the are or curved arm T, carried upon the rook-shaft t, to which are attached the rods 10, supporting one side of the platform P. The revolution of the crank-wheel causesthe vibration of the arm T and partial rotation of the rock-shaft t and a corresponding vibration to the arms 12, and a consequent to-and-fro motion to the platform P. The extent of the vibration or length of stroke of the platform P is regulated by the length of the arm T, and this arm is provided with holes along its outer portion to facilitate the attachment of the connecting-rod s to it at any desired distance from the rock-shaft. By this arrangement the platform P is swung back and forth equal distances from the vertical partition Ono matter what may be the length of the stroke.

It will be seen that the quantity of grain allowed to discharge is regulated by this length of stroke and the rapidity of revoluan equal rapidity of flow to the grain in the a different portions of the drying apparatus before it descends into the bins K K, the inclined wings m m are inserted, so that the displacement of the grain is equalized.

, The trian gular chamber M above the air-sp ace L'is connected with the suction of a blast-fan at the exit-aperture M placed at one end of the chamber; and the floor of the chamber is cut with an angling opening, at, Figs. 5 and 7, widening as it proceeds from the proximity of the extremity of the exit M. This peculiar shape is given so that the draught from the fan may be equal throughout the entire length of the air-space L; the narrowest portion of the aperture m being next the exit M, where the draught is strongest.

The suction created by the fan draws the cold outside air through the slotted sides of the bins K K andthe grain therein contained, and the said air passes into the air-space L, carrying the heat of the grain with it, leaving the grain cool by the time it reaches the discharge at the bottom.

The heated air in the space L is drawn into the fan, where, by any of the well-known hotblast devices, it is increased in temperature, and employed to supply the chambers O O O of the upper division, thus utilizing, in a great measure, the heat within the grain after it has been dried, which has been hitherto wasted. The arrangement'of the fan-blast to perform this operation is exhibited in the diagram Fig. 8 of the drawing. or represents the fan-heater.

The steam contained in the coil of pipe E is more or less condensed by the time it reaches the'drip-cock E, and by attaching a suitable pipe at this point the water of condensation may be returned partially warmed to the boiler.

Claims.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of my invention, what I deem new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination and arrangement of the steam-chambers F F F, pipes G G H, and plug-valves 'i, substantially as specified.

2. The combination and arrangement of the steam-pipes E E E, perforated transverse pipes e, and stop-cocks f, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination and arrangement of the hot-air chambers G G at the ends, and O in the middle, the bottom flue G, and the horifiortal supply-pipes D, substantially as speci- 4. In combination with a grain-drier, the air-chambers G O for hot air, the connectingflues G, and ventilators J j, arranged to throw a blast of hot air among the grain as it leaves ghgl drier for the cooler, substantially as speci- 5. The inclined wings m m placed at the entrance of the cooling-bins, in combination with the triangular chambers M, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The method of constructing the sides of the cooling-bins K K of horizontal slats k, the lower portion of said slats being made ,straight or vertical, and the upper edge beveled upward and outward, as shown at l, as described and shown.

7. The combination and arrangement of the vertical cooling-bins K K with slotted sides, the central air-space L, and chamber M having a blast or suction aperture, M, and a triangular slot, m, whereby cold air may be blown or drawn through the grain, substantially as specified.

8. Thetriangularslotted bottom of the chamber M for distributing the force of the draught or blast of a fan, substantially as specified.

9. In combination with the hot-air chambers O O of a grain-drier, A B, the fan and heater a, arranged to draw its supply of air through the hot grain in the cooling-division B, and to force it into the drying-division A, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. The vibrating platform I placed below the central partition 0 at the bottom of the bins K K of a grain-drier or cooler, to regulate and equalize the discharge of the grain, substantially as specified.

11. The combination of the crank-wheel S, connecting-rod s, curved arm T, rock-shaft t, and rods 1), substantially as specified and shown.

12. The combination and arrangement of the crank-wheel S, connecting-rod s, curved arm T, rock-shaft t, rods 10, platform P, gutter and screw q, as specified and shown, and

operating in the manner and for the purpose describe WILLIAM L. CARD.

Witnesses GEORGE R. LETOURNEAU, E. O. CHAPMAN. 

